Can black people get lice ?

Hair lice is a serious and annoying problem that can lead to serious itching in people, both young and old. One characteristic of hair lice is that they are small insects that can only be spread through personal contact from one person to another.Lice feed on human blood and need to keep warm to survive, that is why they remain in the human hair. Head lice do not carry any disease pathogen aside that their activities can cause severe irritation which can turn to sores and scabs.

Can black people get lice ?

The question “can black people get lice?” is very common. This is because only 0.4% of African American children get lice compared to 10.4% of Caucasian children. The answer to the question is YES, black people can indeed get lice but they tend to have less lice compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Researchers have identified certain reasons why black people tend to have less lice than Caucasian people.

Hair structure and properties of black people

One of the reasons why black people get less lice than their Caucasian counterparts is the structure of the hair. The curly shape of the hair of black people makes it difficult for lice to cling to and stay attached. Moreso, as a matter of attitude, black people use certain hair care products that are naturally uncomfortable for lice. Blacks naturally like to use oil and grease to care for their curly hair. The reason why blacks use oil to care for their curly hair is that it allows it to easily smoothen when combed. However. the advantage of these oil based products being used by black people to care for the hair is that it has great potentials of keeping lice out. This is because, lice love to cling to the hair and move about, down to the scalp to draw blood and back to the hair for shelter. Oil based hair products reduces the navigation of these lice and also suffocate them. The consequence of this is that it is more difficult for lice to grow and multiply in the hair of black people. Moreso, the control attitude of black people during infestation of lice is also be responsible for lesser lice incidences than Caucasians. Typically, if lice is discovered in the hair of a young black boy, the hair is totally and completely shaved. The consequence of this is that the problem is completely solved without the possibility of the parasite being transferred to another person. On the otherhand, it is very rare to see a Caucasian child shaving off the hair because of lice. The consequence of this is that an infested Caucasian child would have infected several others before the parasite is fully controlled.

How to remove lice from your hair ?

1. Wet combing the hair:
One of the potent ways to remove lice from the hair is through wet combing. This is done by moisturizing the hair with water and lubricants, then using a nit comb to run through the entire length of the hair several times. As these go on, the lice would combed out of the hair. Repeat the process every day until lice is completely removed. It is advised that you use insecticides alongside wet combing for better result

2. Application of essential oils:
There is credible evidence that essential oils can kill lice and soothe itching. This is because oil makes it difficult for lice to move around the air. If lice cannot easily move between the scalp and hair, then they cannot easily feed and keep warm. The consequence of this is that they die off quickly. Moreso, essential oils can suffocate the lice within few hours of being applied.

3. Use of insecticides:
There are several insecticides that can be used in the treatment of lice. One of them is the Dimeticone lotion. Applying Dimeticone lotion twice daily for seven days would totally remove lice. Dimeticone lotion kills lice by physical method and not chemically. Dimeticone lotion blocks the respiration of lice, making them die off in the process. There are also insecticides that kill lice by chemical means. An example is Malathion. Malathion burns the lice and its eggs in the hair.

Prevention of lice infestationThere is a popular saying that prevention is better than cure. There are several steps that can be taken to prevent lice infestation. They include making sure that young children do not swap clothing in school, avoid sharing combs or brushes, avoid sharing hair clips, avoid sharing headsets, scarves, hats and bike helmets. Moreso, a properly treated and maintained hair is a less likely host for lice than an untreated one.